Casting machine



March 19, 1929. w. T FRANZEN CASTING MACHINE Filed June 10, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet mnmm rfianz March 19, 1929 w. 'r. FRANZEN I 1,705,640

CASTING MACHINE Filed June 10. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 19, 1929 w. T. FRANZEN 56 CASTING MACHINE Filed June 10, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 w v D D 2 1 M47 zwf William T Franzen;

March 19, 1929. w. T. FRANZEN CASTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I Filed June 10. 1926 gwueflto'o William T Franzen;

Maich 19, 1929. w T, FRANZEN 1,705,640

CASTING MACHINE Fiiied June 10. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 41 Jnvq/u-fo a 4 g Maia/m Tfranzen Patented Mar. 19, 1929.

UN'ETED stars WILLIAM T. FRAN ZEN, OF MINNEAPOLIS,

MINNESOTA, ASSIGNORTO Lou s F. now

COMPANY, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

- oAs'rme MACHINE.

Application filed June 10,

The present invention relates to a casting machine, and more particularly to a machine adapted to the casting of metal articles with a distinctive representation cast in relief thereon. v

In the casting of metal advertising novelties, and the like, it is desirable to make such novelties by the use of an ordinary type of die casting machine, but since the cost of the dies for such a machine usually amounts to several hundred dollars, it is only feasible to use this method of casting such metal articles when a large number of the articles are to be made, so as to divide the cost of the dies among a large number of articles produced. If a merchant desires asmall number of such articles with the name of his establishment cast thereon to distribute as advertising novelties to his trade, it requires the expenditure of several dollars for each article, due to the large cost of the dies necessary to produce the articles.

An object of the present invention is to cast a cored metal article in a mold having a removable indicia bearing insert therein and having a self-centering core operatively associated therewith.

Another object is to make a casting machine having a pair of separable moulding dies op- .erably mounted in a supporting frame and a self-e nteringcore mounted on said frame to cooperate with the dies, said core being provided with means to eject the finished article upon the completion of a casting operation. In order to attain these objects, there is provided, in accordance with one feature of the invention, a frame having a stationary rear molding die positioned thereon, and a forward molding die cooperating with the rear molding die and slidably mounted on the frame, said dies having locking means cooperating therewith to hold them in closely adjacent position duringa molding opera- 7 tion, and actuatable to separate the dies and eject the finished article upon the completion of a molding operation.

Slidably mounted on the frame and positioned to lie centrally of the cavities in the two molding dies during a molding operation, a core for for'minga cavity in the article to be molded. The core has operative engagement with the forward slidable die member to be drawn forwardly thereby after a predetermined movement by said forward die mem her. The core member is provided with ejectan article 1926. Serial no. 114,998,

ing means actuatable upon a predetermined movement of the core member to eject a molded article from engagement with the core.

These and'other features of the invention, not specifically mentioned, will be more fully brought out in the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1, shows a machine made in accord ance with the present invention mounted upon a table. I

Figure 2, is a view in top elevation of theframe of the machine with the dies and their associated parts removed therefrom.

Figure 3, is aview in side elevation of the frame shown in Figure 2. Figure 4-, is a viewin perspective of a removable indicia bearing insert which is in- 'sertible in a die block.

Figure 5, is a View in longitudinal section through the die members and core as they would appear in position formolding, portions thereof being broken away.

Figure 6, is a View inrear elevation of the rear casting die.

Figure 7, isa View in the front casting die. y

Figure 8, is a view in top elevation of the front and rear molding dies separately from the frame. l I t Figure 9, is-a view in side elevation of mechanism shownin Figure 8.

Figure 10., a View in top elevation of the core assembly. I

Figure 11, is a view in side'elevation of the mechanism"shown in Figure 10'.

Figure 12, is a sectional view on the line l2-12' of Figure 10; and

Figure 13, is aview in side elevation of cast by the herein described mechfront elevation of anism.

the r ieferring to the drawings in detail, a frame I A COIiIPI'lSGSfIOHt supporting legs land rear 7 supporting legs 2. V The legs are formedof angle iron and a portion 3 of the upper portions-of the rear legs are cut away to receive a stationary rear casting die Bto belater described in detail. A pair of braces 4, which maybe of strap iron, extend angularly from the, rear legs to longitudinal frame members 5 of angle iron. The inturnededges of the longitudinal frame members are cut away as at 6 to provide a track upon which is slidably mounted a forward casting die member C to be later described in detail.-

Firmly riveted to each of the side frame members 5 and extending downwardly there from is a transverse frame member 7 which cooperates with a locking lever carried by the forward die member to be later described in detail, to lock the dies in position for casting. Journaled in a pair of blocks 8-8, secured to the front of the frame, is a pulley 9 over which is p: ssed a chain 10 (see Figure 1) to separate the dies upon the completion of a casting operation.

Firmly secured to the right hand longitudinal frame member 5, and extending first outwardly. and then upwardly. therefrom, is a metal plate 11 havinga notch 12 in the upper edge thereof which cooperates with an ejecting handle to be later described in detail.

Operatively mounted upon the frame are the die assemblies which may be divided roughly into three main groups. constituting a stationary rear die assembly B, a slidable forward die assembly C, and a core assembly D slidably mounted with respect to both die assemblies.

Considered in the above order, the rear die assembly 13 comprises mainly a block 141- of steel having a cavity 15 formed in a side thereof. Extending through the rear wall of the die is a rectangular opening 16 into which, to have a close sliding fit therein, is an insert 17 removably positioned in said opening'by means of a set screw 18. This insert is provided with. suitable indicia on the inner end thereof which is shaped to conform with he face of the die cavity to form a continuation thereof. it, pair of vertical grooves 1919 in the sides of the rear die receive the tracks formed by the cutaway upper portions 3 of the rear legs of the frame A, so that when the rear die member is mounted .upon the frame it is securely held inposition thereon. A transverse bar 20 secured to the top of the roar die member, asby screws 70, has a depression 22 in the forward face thereof which cooperates with a portion of the core assembly to form a gate into which molten metal may be poured to cast the article for which the mechanism is constructed.

The forward die assembly comprises mainly. a block 23 of metal having a die cavity 24- in the rear face thereof to coactwith the die cavity in the forward face of the rear die member. A. hook 25 is threadedly inserted in a hole drilled and tapped in the forward face of thefront of the block 23, which hook, engages a loop on the end of the chain 10. Set into the lowerv edges of the forward die block 23 "and firmly secured thereto are a pair of forward extensions 26-26. These extension members have each a longitudinally disposed track groove 27 cut therein which reccive the inturned portions of the longitudinal frame members to slidably mount the forward die assembly thereon. ,Metal dowels 28 are mounted in the rear face of the forward die assembly to project therefrom and register with holes 29 drilled in the forward face of the rear die assembly to lock the parts against relative lateral movement when in position for casting.

A metal bar 30 is mounted transversely of the forward edge of the forward die assembly as by screws and is provided with a depression 31 in the rear face thereof which coacts with portion of the core assembly to form a riser for molten metal of which the article is cast. I

Projecting upwardly from the forward ends of the grooved side members are vertical projections 3232 which are provided with a pair of studs 33 and 34 upon which one end of springs 35 .(see Figure 1) are mounted. The other ends of the springs 35 are connected to studs 36 and 37 on the upper portions of the rear legs 2-2 of the frame. Pivotally mounted upon the right hand grooved extension member 26 is a locking lever 38, the lower edge 39 of which is shaped to form a cam which cooperates with the transverse frame member 7 (see Figure 9) to-lock the die assemblies together during a casting operation. The transverse frame member 7, as shown in Figure 9, is in the po- Sition it would occupy when the dies are locked together, and not as it would appear when the dies are separated, as they are in Figure 9. The frame member 7 is illustrated in this position in Figure 9 merely for the purpose of illustrating the action of the looking lever cam and not to show its true relative position when the dies are in the position illustrated.

Mounted upon each side of the forward die assembly C is a stud 40 upon which is slidably mounted the core assembly D. The core assembly is illustrated in section in Figure and in top and side elevation, and transverse section in Figures 10, 11, and 12, respectively.

The core assembly comprises mainly a core screws 412 (see Figure 12) to a plate 43. To the lower surface of each side of the plate 43 are. connected a pair of longitudinal track members 44 of angle iron each of which is" provided with an elongated slot 4:5,the central portion 46 of the slot being open at the bottom. These slots ride upon and engage the studs 40 1n the forward die assembly.

Connected to the upper surface of the plate 1m v member ll which is connected as by means of in the plate 43, and also penetrates opening 51 ina plate 52 of the ejecting assembly.

end of the central positioning member 5L9 is a metal disk 56 having a handle 57 inserted therein and extending outwardly between the two studs 54 and 55. A cam slot 58 is cut in a side of the disk and receives a pin projecting from the forward face of the rear transverse bar 47. Mounted on the top surface of the bar 53 and the studs 5a and 55 is a metal plate 59 securely held in position by means of screws 60. Firmly secured to the lower face of the lower plate 52 of the ejecting assembly are a plurality of pins 61 which register with openings in the plate 43.

In a normal position the ejecting assembly is raised as in Figure 5, so that the pins 61 have their lower ends flush with the lower surface of the plate 43. Upon an actuation of the ejecting assembly, which occurs when the dies are separated and the handle 5'? is rotated, the cam slot 58 moves across the pin 65, thereby lowering the ejecting assembly. lChis moves the pins 61 downwardly below the surface of the plate 43. The ejecting pins 61 are positioned closely adjacent the edge of the core ill in the space occupied by the upper edge of the cast article. Upon a downward movement of the pins, therefore, the cast article is disengaged from the I core and ejected bet-ween'the separated die members.

The dies with which the present machine is equipped are formed to cast a small replica 68 (Figure of the Liberty Bell, but the machine is equally suited for the casting of any cored article of the same general character.

A foot lever 63 is pivotally mounted to a transverse brace element of the table. Figure 1 shows the lever in solid lines in the position it would occupy when the dies were separated. and in dotted lines in the position it would occupy when the dies were in closed position ready for casting. A metaLmelting pot 66 and a pouring ladle 67 are illustrated in position ready for use, but form no part of the invention.

Upon releasing the foot lever 63 (see Figure 1) the springs 35 which are connected at their forward ends to the studs 33 of the upright 32 of the forward die member and at their rear ends to the rear legs 2 of the frame draw the forward die member rearward to a closed position. As the forward die membe moves to the rear, the transverse bar 30, mounted on top of the forward die, engages the transverse bar 47 on the core assembly and carries the core assembly with it until the rear transverse bar t? on the core assembly strikes the transverse bar 20 on the rear die. When this occurs the dies are in closely adjacent position and the core is positioned centrally of the die cavity. The locking lever 38 is then manually moved to the position shown in Figure 9 to engage thetransverse frame member 7. The cam action of the locking lever forces the die members still closer together, the dowel pins registering with the holes in the rear die and causing an' exact registry of the die cavities.

As the core assembly D is moved rearward, the ejector actuating lever strikes the rear face of the notch 12 in the plate 11 and its rearward movement is arrested. .The core assembly continues its rearward travel, however, and causes the disk 56 to be rotated clockwise. This moves the cam 58 across the pin 65 raising the ejecting assembly to an inoperative position as illustrated in. Fig-- ure'5.

Molten metal may then be poured in the gate formed by the depression 22 and the bar 47 until metal appears in the riser formed by the depression 31 and'the forward bar 47, indicating that the mold is filled. After the lapse of a sufficient interval to insure solidification of the metal, the locking lever 08 is released and the foot lever 63 is depressed to separate the parts.

Upon depressing the foot lever the forward. die, in which is inserted the hook 25, is drawn forward. The studs 40 in the sides of the for- I ward die member ride forward in the slots 4.5 in the side members 44 of the core assern-v bly the entire length of the slots, whereupon 100 they engage the forward ends of said slots,"

and carry the core assembly forwa-rd with the forward die. The ejector lever rides for ward the length of the notch 12 whereupon it strikes the forward edge of said slot and its forward movement is arrested The core assembly, continuing its forward .IBOVGE'IIGDL causes a partial counterclockwise rotation of the disk 56 which moves the cam 58 across the pin G5,.depressing the ejecting assembly. This moves the pins 61 downward agninst the upper edge of the cast article, forcing the article off the core and causing itto drop down between the now fully separated front and rear die assemblies. v j

Upon releasing the foot lever the springs 35 draw the parts together, and, upon locking the parts by means of the locking lever .38, the mechanism is again in position for casting.

t will be noted that a small auxiliary lever 6a is pivoted to the main foot lever. This'is to give an increased leverage for the first separation of the dies, and a reduced leveragefor the remainder of the stroke.

By removing the insert 17 and replacing it with another, other articles may be cast, all being of the same general shape, but each bearing a distinctive representation cast thereon. v

The inserts may be manufactured at very small cost, as compared with the cost of an entire set of dies, and there is thus provided, at a very reasonable expense, an article having all the features of an individual die castingwith a great saving of expense and labor.

I claim:

1. A mechanism of the character described, comprising a frame, a die block removably mounted thereon, said block having a cavity in a face thereof, a second die block slidably mounted on said frame, and having a die cavity therein to register with the die cavity in the first block, means operatively connected to the second block to separate it from the first block, means connected between the bloc s to resiliently urge the blocks together, core mechanism slidably mounted with respect to both of said blocks and having loose sliding engagement with the second block to permit the second block to move a predetermined distance from the core and from the first block during a separating movement, and means carried by the second block to thereupon engage the core to withdraw it from engagement with the first block.

2. A mechanism of the character described,

. comprising a frame having a track thereon, a

die member mounted on said frame, a second die member movably mounted on said track 10 register with said first die member to provide a cavity to cast an article therein, a secondary frame slidably mounted with re spect to both of said die members and having loose, slidable engagement with the die memher mounted on said track to permit said die member to move a predetermined distance from said core during a separation of said die member, a core member carried thereby to lie within said cavity, a plurality of ector pins mounted adjacent said core member, cam

means operatively connected to said ejector pins and having a portion thereof projecting therefrom to engage a portion of said frame during a separative movement of said dies to actuate said cam and move said ejector pins to eject a cast article from said core.

3. A casting mechanism of the character described, comprising a pair of die blocks mounted to have a closed position and an open position, the faces of said die blocks 4. A casting mechanism of the character described, com-prising a frame, a pair of die blocks shdably mounted thereon to have a closed position and an open position, said blocks each having a die cavity therein, core mechanism slidably mounted with respect to said blocks to lie within the die cavities when said blocks are in closed position, separating means operatively connected to said blocks and means loosely connecting said core and one of said die blocks to move said core outwardly from said blocks upon moving said blocks to an open position, a pivot member mounted on said core mechanisi'n, ejector pins operatively connected thereto, an actuating lever connected to said pivot member and having a portion thereof extend beyond said core mechanism to strike a portion of said frame when the die blocks are moved to an open position to actuate the ejector pins and eject a cast article from said core.

; In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

WILLIAM 'r. FRANZEN. 

